Puyallup, Wash., April 28, 1942--In the wake of Pearl Harbor, the United States began deporting Japanese-Americans from areas where they were thought to pose a security risk. This photograph shows the first arrivals at a newly built assembly center in Puyallup before their transfer to one of 10 more permanent Relocation Centers. The War Relocation Authority shuffled or cordoned an estimated 120,000 people in its time. (AP Photo/Paul Wagner)

U.S. Marines of the 28th Regiment of the Fifth Division raise the American flag atop Mt. Suribachi, Iwo Jima, on Feb. 23, 1945. Strategically located only 660 miles from Tokyo, the Pacific island became the site of one of the bloodiest, most famous battles of World War II against Japan.

Schoolchildren in gas masks. Nazi soldiers marching in Nuremburg.The flag raised at Iwo Jima. A nurse and sailor kissing in Times Square.

These iconic World War II photographs have cemented themselves in the American psyche and convey the fears, the attitudes and the happenings of a whole era and allow us to always remember.

The Museum of Texas Tech will present these photographs and others in the “Memories of World War II: Photographs from the Archives of the Associated Press” exhibition on July 15.

This exhibition is part of the “Celebrating Our Heroes” collaborative exhibitions happening over the next few months at The Museum of Texas Tech, Science Spectrum, Silent Wings Museum and the Vietnam Center and Archives at Texas Tech.

“We want to honor our nation’s veterans,” said David Dean, director of information services for the Museum of Texas Tech. “We are taking this opportunity while we still have some of our nation’s veterans from the war, and let them see this exhibition and educate the public on WWII and that whole generation.”

About 120 photographs will be on display in the museum, and the exhibition is in the process of being assembled.

“Memories of World War II” is a traveling exhibition, and Dean said he feels it is special for Lubbock to see it.

“There has been an outpouring of patriotism about our veterans from all wars,” he said. “That is something we want to assist and be a part of.”

“Memories of World War II” ties in with some WWII exhibitions the Texas Tech museum already has on display.

“It ties directly into our exhibitions dealing with life on the home front during WWII,” said Henry Crawford, curator of history. “We have several publications like Life magazine and some things from the Associated Press to show what people were seeing during the war and how they were staying informed as to what was happening in the war.”

Crawford also said there was a major effort to build up an infrastructure so the United States would be able to support the war effort.

“Texas right now probably has three of the largest military complexes in the United States,” he said referring to Fort Hood, Fort Bliss and Fort Sam Houston. “They were built largely in part because of WWII.”

Crawford said the exhibition should give veterans the recognition they deserve.

“WWII was fought and won by young adults,” he said. “They are now into their 80s and 90s and we want them to receive recognition.”

“Memories of WWII” will be the first exhibition opening as part of the “Celebrating Our Heroes” collaborative.

“We built Celebrating Our Heroes around the exhibition,” said Kay Davis, event coordinator for Celebrating Our Heroes. “We knew we doing the ‘Memories of WWII’ so we planned all the other events to go with it.”

Davis said that the images in the exhibition will remind people of those pictures they would have seen if they were a Life Magazine subscriber during WWII.

“These pictures are the originals, and it is a great opportunity for people to share ideas and talk about what they see.”

The “Memories of WWII: Photographs from the Archives of the Associated Press” will open July 15 at 1-5 p.m. at the Museum of Texas Tech. The Veteran’s Family Picnic will begin at 12:30 p.m. The exhibit is free.

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